$425K Colt Tops Ruidoso Sale Day 1

Half brother to Leading Spirit by Corona Cartel highlights opening of three-day auction.

By StallioneSearch.comSeptember 1, 2012

Spirit Leader (Corona Cartel-Sandras Task), consigned by Julianna Hawn Holt and purchased by Ms. Abigail Kawananakoa for $425,000, topped the first day of the sale.

The Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale got off to a roaring start Friday night with Abigail K. Kawananakoa paying $425,000 for Spirit Leader, a half brother to champion Leading Spirit.

The Corona Cartel colt consigned by Julianna Hawn Holt is out of Sandra Task, by Special Task, the dam of seven winners, included champion 2-year-old gelding Leading Spirit ($811,413), Grade 3 winner Leading Diva ($138,174) and stakes-placed Toast To Texas ($79,992).

Preliminary results showed 94 of 123 yearlings in the first season marked sold for a $34,395 average and $20,500 median. The gross sales total for yearlings sold was $3,233,100. The three-day sale will need to pick up its numbers on Saturday and Sunday to meet or exceed last year's sale total of $13.7 million and a final average of $44,280 and median price of $25,000 on 310 head sold.

Jesus Garera Garcia purchased Friday's second high-seller One Slick Cartel for $112,000 from Burns Ranch, agent for Allred Brothers Ranch LLC. The colt by leading first crop sire Carters Cartel is out of the stakes-placed Dash For Cash mare One Slick Cookie, dam of 10 ROM and three stakes horses. She is also the granddam of 2012 Rainbow Futurity (G1) winner Carters Cookie ($352,100), by Carters Cartel.

Princess Abigail Kawananakoa was the leading first-night buyer with two head for $485,000, followed by Alberto Sabas Valdez, who purchased two for $185,000, and Reliance Ranches LLC with three for $140,000.

Julianna Hawn Holt was the leading consignor in the first session with three yearlings for $590,000 followed by Lazy E Ranch LLC, agent for Bob and Jerry Gaston, with three for $250,000, and Burns Ranch, agent, with five head for $162,000.

Corona Cartel led all sale sires by average with two or more sold with four yearlings averaging $152,250. All-time leading sire First Down Dash had nine for $53,722, and Carters Cartel had five for an average of $51,400. Foose was the leading first-year sale sire with four head averaging $35,875.

The sale will continue Saturday following the final race at Ruidoso Downs with the second session of Select Yearlings (Hips 226 thru 254). The final session is scheduled for Sunday evening (Hips 293 thru 497).